U.S. patent application number 13/923888 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-26 for physiological monitoring of moving vehicle operators.
The applicant listed for this patent is Masimo Corporation. Invention is credited to Ammar Al-Ali, Mohamed K. Diab, Massi Joe E. Kiani, Nikolai Marinow.
Application Number | 20130345921 13/923888 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49775096 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130345921 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Al-Ali; Ammar ; et
al. |
December 26, 2013 |
PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF MOVING VEHICLE OPERATORS
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to determining an physical state
of a moving vehicle operator. In an embodiment, if it is determined
that a vehicle operator is impaired, the vehicle is programed to
automatically and safely stop a vehicle before an accident occurs.
In an embodiment physiological sensors in the seat, steering wheel,
or wireless sensors placed on the vehicle operator's body are used
to determine an impairment state of a vehicle operator.
Inventors: |
Al-Ali; Ammar; (San Juan
Capistrano, CA) ; Diab; Mohamed K.; (Ladera Ranch,
CA) ; Kiani; Massi Joe E.; (Laguna Niguel, CA)
; Marinow; Nikolai; (Herrenberg, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Masimo Corporation |
Irvine |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49775096 |
Appl. No.: |
13/923888 |
Filed: |
June 21, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61663425 |
Jun 22, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/23 ;
297/217.6; 600/323; 600/476; 600/479 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/02427 20130101;
A61B 5/6891 20130101; A61B 2562/046 20130101; A61B 5/0064 20130101;
A61B 5/11 20130101; A61B 5/14552 20130101; A61B 5/0002 20130101;
G05D 1/0055 20130101; A61B 5/6803 20130101; B60Q 3/00 20130101;
A61B 5/0476 20130101; A61B 5/6806 20130101; A61B 5/0816 20130101;
A61B 5/6893 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/23 ;
297/217.6; 600/479; 600/476; 600/323 |
International
Class: |
G05D 1/00 20060101
G05D001/00; A61B 5/00 20060101 A61B005/00; B60Q 3/00 20060101
B60Q003/00 |
Claims
1. A vehicle operator physiological monitoring system comprising: a
physiological monitor configured to measure a physiological state
of a vehicle operator; a processor in communication with the
physiological monitor that determines if the operator is impaired
and automatically takes control of the vehicle to prevent an
accident.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the physiological sensor is
located in an operator's seat.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the physiological sensor is
located in a steering wheel.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the physiological sensor is
located in a hat worn by the operator.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the physiological sensor is
located a glove worn by the operator.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the physiological sensor is
located in a Bluetooth device worn by the operator.
7. A system configured to monitor a physiological state of a
vehicle operator, the system comprising: a vehicle operator seat;
at least one light emitter; and at least one light detector,
wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light
detector are housed and form part of the vehicle operator seat.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one light emitter is
configured to be shine light into the leg or buttocks of a vehicle
operator;
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one light emitter
and the at leaste one light detector are placed below at least a
first layer of fabric of the vehicle operator seat.
10. A method of determining a physiological state of a vehicle
operator, the method comprising: shining a light into a body
portion of a vehicle operator, wherein the light is of sufficient
power to penetrate clothing worn by the vehicle operator; detecting
light attenuated by the body portion of the vehicle operator;
processing the detected attenuated light to determine a
physiological state of the vehicle operator.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the physiological state is a
pulse rate.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the physiological state is
oxygen saturation.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the physiological state is
respiration rate.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the physiological state is an
alertness level.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims a priority benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/663,425, filed
Jun. 22, 2012, entitled "PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF MOVING VEHICLE
OPERATORS," which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure is related to the field of
physiological monitoring.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Moving vehicle accidents are a major source of property
damage, personal injury and loss of life. Vehicle manufacturers
have integrated numerous technologies into vehicles in an attempt
to decrease injury or loss of life in the event of an accident.
However, vehicle manufacturers have not found appropriate ways to
automatically prevent accidents before they happen.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present disclosure relates to determining an physical
state of a moving vehicle operator. In an embodiment, if it is
determined that a vehicle operator is impaired, the vehicle is
programed to automatically and safely stop a vehicle before an
accident occurs. In an embodiment physiological sensors in the
seat, steering wheel, or wireless sensors placed on the vehicle
operator's body are used to determine an impairment state of a
vehicle operator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of physiological sensors placed in
the seat bottom of a vehicle.
[0006] FIG. 2 is an embodiment of physiological sensors placed in
the seat back of a vehicle.
[0007] FIGS. 3-5 illustrate embodiments of physiological sensors
placed in a steering wheel of a vehicle.
[0008] FIG. 6 is an embodiment of a hat based sensor worn by a
vehicle operator.
[0009] FIG. 7 is an embodiment of a glove based sensor worn by a
vehicle operator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The present disclosure provides examples of physiological
sensors incorporated into a vehicle and used to determine a
physical state of an operator. The vehicle can be an automobile, a
truck, a train, a plane, a boat, a submarine, a tractor or other
construction equipment or any other moving vehicle. The
physiological information can be used to determine whether the
operator is experiencing a medical condition that may impair the
operator's ability to control the vehicle. For example, this can
include whether the operator is drowsy, experiencing a heart
attack, a seizure or other medical ailment. In various embodiments,
different parameters can be obtained in order to determine the
state of the operator. For example, useful parameters for
determining the physiological state of a vehicle operator include
pulse rate, plethysmograph, arrhythmias or other heart conditions,
oxygen saturation, respiration rate, ECG, temperature,
carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, total hemoglobin, glucose,
consciousness, etc.
[0011] Once the physiological parameters are obtained, the vehicle
can process the data to determine if the operator is experiencing a
condition that places the vehicle at risk. The vehicle can be
configured to automatically and safely stop itself in the event
that the vehicle determines that the operator is unable to
physically control the vehicle. In an airplane embodiment, the
vehicle can switch to an autopilot feature. In an automobile,
truck, train, boat or other land or sea based vehicle, the vehicle
can slow itself down to a stop and turn on warning lights, such as
hazard lights.
[0012] In an embodiment, when the vehicle determines an operator
may be experiencing an impaired condition, the vehicle can request
the driver to provide some input to verify that the driver is
impaired. For example, the vehicle can ask the operator to audibly
state whether the operator believes they are capable of operating
the vehicle. In an embodiment, if the operator does not respond,
the vehicle will automatically take control of itself. In an
embodiment, the operator will be required to push an override
button or provide some other task which verifies the operator is
not impaired.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a vehicle seat 101
incorporating sensors in the bottom of the seat. Seat 101 includes
processor board 103. The processor board 103 receives power and
communication over power/com lines 105. The processor board 103
also communicates with light emitter 109 and detector 111. Light
emitter 109 and detector 111 are located beneath a fabric layer 113
out of sight of the vehicle operator. The light emitter 109 and
detector 111 are located such that the light emitter shines light
into the vehicle operators body and detector 111 detects the light
as it reflects back. In an embodiment, the light emitter is located
under the left thigh or buttocks of the vehicle operator. The left
thigh is advantageous because generally the right leg is used for
control of most automatic vehicles and thus the left thigh is left
relatively motionless. The light emitter 109 is configured to be a
deep tissue emitter, for example, by emitting a strong infrared
signal. For example, the light emitter can be in the range of 100
mW to 1W. An infrared light can be used, as opposed to a red light,
for example, so that it is invisible to the operator and will not
distract the operator. Alternatively a red light, or combination of
red and infrared light can be used. Other visible or non-visible
lights can also be used as would be understood by a person of skill
in the art from the present disclosure. In an embodiment, a
pressure sensor senses that a vehicle operator is sitting on the
emitter, triggering activation of the emitter.
[0014] FIG. 1 also illustrates optional sensors 115, 117 and 119.
Optional sensors 115, 117 and 119 can be, for example, acoustic
sensors or motion sensors. For example, the sensors can be made
from piezoelectric film, an accelerometer, or any other type of
motion or acoustic sensing system. Theses sensors can be used to
pick up physiological signals such as pulse rate, respiration rate,
breathing noises, etc. The physiological signals can filtered out
from other irrelevant motion and/or acoustic signals attributable
to movement of the vehicle or the operator.
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment in which sensors are placed
in the seat back of the vehicle. Sensors 203 can be acoustic,
motion, or optical sensors as described above with respect to FIG.
1. The sensors can be placed in an array as illustrated or a single
sensor can be used. An array of sensors can provide more
information than can be gleamed from a single sensor. The sensors
203 can be electrically connected to the circuit board 205 as
illustrated. In FIG. 2. The sensors 203 can determine, for example,
heart movement, the strength of the heart, pulse rate and
respiration rate.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a steering wheel 301
with an integrated optical reflectance sensor. The reflectance
sensor includes an emitter 305, such as, for example, an infrared
emitter and a detector 307. The reflectance center is located on a
portion of the steering wheel 303 which is most likely to be held
by the operator. In some embodiments, the location of the
reflectance sensor is well marked so that the driver knows where to
place is hands. In an embodiment, the reflectance sensor is located
so that emitted light is emitted away from a driver, such as, for
example, being emitted perpendicular to the driver or toward the
road way so as not to distract a driver.
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a steering wheel
401 that includes sensors placed at various points around the
circumference of the steering wheel 401. In this embodiment,
multiple sensors 403, such as optical reflectance sensors, are
placed around the wheel such that no matter where the operator
places his hands, at least one sensor will detect the operator's
physiological parameters. Again, an embodiment, the sensors are
placed in a configuration that prevents emitted light from shining
directly into a vehicle operators face to prevent distraction.
[0018] FIG. 5. illustrates another embodiment of a steering wheel
501 with integrated light piping sensor 503. The light piping
sensor 503 acts as an optical reflectance sensor. Light is piped
around the steering wheel. When a driver place his hands on the
steering wheel, the light will be attenuated. The attenuated light
is detected and processed to determine optical physiological
measurements.
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a sensor integrated into
a hat 601. The hat can be worn by the operator and can communicate
wirelessly with processors in the vehicle. The hat 601 has a band
603 which places sensors 605, 607 against the forehead of the
operator. The sensors communicate with transceiver 611 which
processes and transmits data to the vehicle for further processing
and/or display. The sensors 605, 607 can be an EEG sensor used to
determine consciousness of the patient. The sensors 605, 607 can
also be a reflectance based oximetry sensor, acoustic sensor,
accelerometer sensor or the like.
[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates a driving glove 701 with an integrated
ring sensor 703. The ring sensor has light emitters 705 and a
detector 707. The ring sensor can be a reflectance based sensor or
a transmission based sensor. The sensor 703 can communicate
wirelessly with the vehicle.
[0021] In another embodiment, an optical sensor is integrated into
a Bluetooth device and placed on the operators ear. The Bluetooth
device pairs with the vehicle and shares physiological information
with the vehicle. In an embodiment, an optical ear sensor is
integrated into the seat and is retractable, allowing the operatory
to place the ear sensor on the ear while operating the vehicle.
[0022] In an embodiment, various physiological sensors are
integrated into a watch, band or other wearable object. The watch
or band can be recharged in a dedicated recharging station in the
vehicle. In an embodiment, the watch or band can also include a
wireless key that allows entry in the vehicle.
[0023] In an embodiment, an infrared laser can be configured to
shine on the operator's face from a distance so as not to distract
the vehicle operator. A camera is used to determine if the
operator's skin color changes or whether the operator begins to
sweat profusely. Sudden changes in an operator's condition can
indicate an imminent threat.
[0024] In an embodiment, body penetrating radar can be used to
measuring heart and lung movement. The radar can be used to extract
information on changes in the operators physiology.
[0025] The sensor embodiments disclosed herein can be used in
conjuction with known monitoring techniques, such as, for example,
a pulse oximeter or acoustic monitoring device, both of which are
commercially available from Masimo Corporation of Irvine,
Calif.
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